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Chapter 30: Jude
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Family Ties Chapter 31: Jude
"Are you fucking kidding me with this shit, Portia? What the hell is your problem?" I'd woken up filled with regret and the intention of making things right with Portia. The problem was, by the time I got out of bed, took a shower, and felt human enough to form sentences, I was dehydrated. I'd screwed up. It didn't matter if I'd thought it was all in good fun or believed she wouldn't find out, much less be hurt by my actions. I loved Portia, and that should have trumped anything else I thought was going on last night. I didn't have a reason for why it didn't, only that it wouldn't happen again. I'd been ready to make that commitment and that apology until I had strolled into the kitchen-feeling like death-to find Ernie, Hensley, and Portia waiting to pounce."I did what I thought was in your best interest, Jude. And that was telling Mom and Dad." Portia tried to maintain her resolve, but she was seconds from breaking down."And you thought telling them I went to a party last
Family Ties Chapter 32: Portia
"Is Jude picking you up?" Jet stood across from me, packing her things for spring break. "No, Ernie and Hensley are. He's still doing his best to avoid me.""Have you two not talked since Christmas?" She spun around so quickly, her blond hair whipped around her body. Once her locks stopped, she plopped down on the bed, clearly stunned I hadn't talked to him in three months.I shrugged, embarrassed. "I've sent him text messages, which I get one-word answers to if he bothers to respond. And I've tried to call a few times, but he doesn't answer." I took a seat next to my bag on my mattress and let out a heavy sigh. "I shouldn't have told my parents-or at the very least, I should have talked to him when he was sober before I did. I overreacted."She reached across the small space between our bunks to touch my knee and bring my focus to her face. "You did what you thought was right."My brow rose in hope that she'd confirm I hadn't screwed up. "So, you would have done the same th
Family Ties Chapter 33: Portia
Jude had avoided me last night, and this morning, he'd done exactly what I predicted the moment we got into the car to make the three-and-a-half-hour drive from Carondale to Cape Cod-he put on his headphones and opened a book. Ernie and Hensley talked amongst themselves, so I got out my iPad and played word scramble until my eyes crossed.The four of us checked in to the quaint bed and breakfast Hensley had arranged, and even though I knew it was coming, I was still shocked when Ernie handed me a key to the room Jude and I would share for the next week-alone. I'd hoped I would be paired off with Hensley and Ernie and Jude could do the boy thing. I knew better. They'd been clear that they intended for us to find a way through the issue at Christmas, and while I was willing to do what it took, Jude held fast to resistance. The guy was stubborn as a mule and always had been. God almighty couldn't make Jude Thomas do something he wasn't inclined to do. I groaned as I walked down the h
Family Ties Chapter 34: Portia
We hadn't seen much of Hensley and Ernie since we got to Cape Cod. They stopped by or sent one of us a text message to let us know where they were or what they were doing, but either they were having their own romantic holiday, or they believed shoving Jude and me together was the solution to our problems. I never would have thought it would work, yet it had-maybe too well. In the two days we'd been here, we'd eaten dinner with them and that was about it. And even then, there were stolen touches and secretive glances. My mom was clearly proud of herself and her plan for forced isolation, although she didn't realize what those secretive glances between Jude and me actually meant. She had no idea the two of us were playing tonsil hockey in the room, or holding hands on the beach, or kissing when no one was watching. Jude and I hadn't talked about what was going on between us. We just let it happen on its own accord, and it was better than anything I'd ever experienced. He was safe-
Family Ties Chapter 35: Jude
Waking the next morning, I wondered if the previous night had been a dream. The heat of a body curled into my side confessed the truth. Portia's dark hair flowed in a river of black covering the arm I had wrapped around her, and my fingers danced on her bare skin. Every second of our time together was crystal clear, yet I couldn't quite bring myself to believe it was real. With her soft breaths prancing across my chest, I carefully lifted the comforter, verifying the two of us remained unclothed. Portia stirred with the intrusive draft from the cool air in the room, and her hand slid along my side. I peered down my nose to see the smile begin to form, and even though she didn't open her eyes, the corners of her mouth lifted in happiness. "Good morning," she cooed in a husky voice that made my dick twitch. Her fingers continued to explore my bare flesh until she cupped my ass in her hand and squeezed. A sensual groan of satisfaction parted my lips and carried a word with it. "M
Family Ties Chapter 36: Jude
We met Ernie and Hensley downstairs in the living room, which served as a makeshift lobby for the bed and breakfast. They both had on jackets, indicating we were going out for brunch. Ernie grabbed my shoulder with a smile and then directed his affection toward Portia, scooping her into a hug. When they separated, he beamed. "Glad to see you two have worked things out and are on speaking terms again."Hensley stood from her seat and clapped her hands together and then held them in a prayer in front of her mouth. "I knew this would be the perfect thing for you to mend your relationship. Siblings should never squabble, much less for months." Her smile grew behind her fingers, and then she dropped her hands to her side. I cringed at her mention of the word siblings and wondered how Portia and I would ever break this to them or go public. Over the years, I'd made numerous comments about her not being my sister, just not enough to the two people who mattered. And as long as I'd love
Family Ties Chapter 37: Jude
"Do you think Hensley saw us?" Portia craned her neck, peering around my shoulder. "If she had, she wouldn't have kept walking." I could see the thrum of Portia's anxious heartbeat in the vein that ran along her neck. I'd be worried if she weren't grinning from ear to ear. Her fingers dug into my sides as she practically climbed my body to bring my face low enough for her to reclaim my lips. I'd learned quickly over the last four days that Portia was big into public displays of affection. There was no doubt the two of us were together, and to anyone we encountered it appeared we had been for ages. We'd held hands all over town, taken a couple of little day trips to see shit neither of us cared about as an excuse to have time away from Ernie and Hensley, and even if they were around, we found ways to sneak in stolen kisses and quick glances. Part of me worried if the thrill of hiding from them held the appeal for Portia.I pulled away from her kiss, distracted by my thoughts, as
Family Ties Chapter 38: Portia
It was what he said, how he said it, the way he kissed me before he admitted he'd already made plans for our future. It might have been naïve to believe that two foster kids who'd been to hell and back could end up with a happily ever after that included each other, but it was a dream I wanted to fall into head first. There was no resistance on his part when I linked my arm in his and redirected us back to our bed and breakfast. I'd rather hold his hand, but if we ran into Ernie and Hensley, us being arm in arm wouldn't rouse any suspicion. By the time we climbed the steps into the B&B, the quick pace back had left us winded. We hadn't seen or heard from my parents since lunch, and my best guess was they were off touring lighthouses or something equally as boring, which would allow us several hours before they would expect to have dinner. I planned to enjoy every minute.Jude closed the door to our room and engaged the lock. The moment he faced me, my fingers worked the zipper on
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